Swindon’s thriving creative scene is preparing to dazzle once again this summer, with an exhibition that celebrates two decades of artistic talent and local spirit.
Taking place from 16th to 29th June 2025 at The Carriage Works on London Street, I ❤️ SOS is a special retrospective marking the enduring legacy of Swindon Open Studios (SOS). As part of this year’s Swindon Arts Fringe (SWAF), the curated exhibition brings together work from 31 artists – each of whom has, at some point in the past twenty years, thrown open their studio doors to invite the public into their creative world.
The result is a captivating journey through time, offering glimpses into the evolution of Swindon’s community art movement. From early contributors to newcomers preparing for their first SOS exhibition this September, the works span a variety of styles and media – from mixed media to mosaic. One such standout is a sculpture by Lynette Thomas, which graced the front of a Swindon Open Studios brochure more than twenty years ago and returns to the spotlight once again.
Among the exhibiting artists is local favourite Sue Ash, who has long been involved in SOS. “As a visitor, I love SOS as it allows me to discover a wide spectrum of artists working across many different media,” she shared. “As a participant, I love the community it has created, filled with mutual respect and support.”
In a delightful collaboration, Poetry Swindon has joined forces with SOS to offer a free writing competition themed around ‘Art in Swindon’. With prose, poetry, and under-15s categories, there’s a £50 voucher up for grabs and the chance to have winning entries displayed as part of the exhibition.
Organiser Sophie Boyce explained: “We’re keen to attract a wide range of writers. Poetry Swindon is a welcoming group, and we meet monthly at Lower Shaw Farm – everyone is welcome to join us.”
The winning entry will be announced at a special event at The Bakers Café on Saturday 28th June at 2pm.
Entry to the exhibition is free, and visitors are encouraged to explore four other thought-provoking exhibitions running concurrently at The Carriage Works, with topics ranging from fungi to contemporary social commentary.
It’s yet another sign that Swindon’s artistic pulse is beating stronger than ever – and everyone’s invited to be a part of it.
